By: Kurtis Ternet

HANOVER, Ind. – Hanover (3-4 overall, 3-1 HCAC) travels to Anderson (0-7 overall, 0-4 HCAC) for a conference battle. Kickoff is set for 1:30PM at Macholtz Stadium in Anderson, Ind.
 
Hanover Fails to Upset Mount St. Joseph
Hanover lost a tough battle 44-29 to an undefeated no. 24 ranked Mount St. Joseph (7-0 overall, 4-0 HCAC).
The Panthers were the first to put points on the board on Saturday. With eight minutes left in the first quarter, Senior Devonte Hardiman (Princeton, Ind.) landed a strip sack which set Hanover up at the MSJ 7-yard line. Three plays after Hardiman's sack, senior Matthew Weimer (Georgetown, Ind.) found junior Eric Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) for a 5-yard touchdown pass, giving Hanover a 7-0 lead.

After a tight knit 45 minutes, the Lions pulled away in the fourth quarter with 21 unanswered points. For Hanover, the story of the game was mistakes. The Panthers turned the ball over five times, including a muffed kickoff that gave MSJ prime field position with less than five minutes to go in the game.

Hanover's offense was led by sophomore Austin Oppel (Brandenburg, Ky.) who tallied 99 total yards of offense and two touchdowns. In the air, senior Hunter Eads (Batavia, Ohio) was the top target with five catches and 87 receiving yards.

Defensively, junior Caleb Brewster (Hiram, Ga.) led the team with nine total tackles. Hardiman recorded the only Hanover sack, along with a forced fumble and a pass deflection.
 
Defiance Too Much for Anderson
Anderson picked up their seventh straight loss to start the 2022 season in a 32-22 stumble against Defiance. Ravens quarterback Roosevelt Norfleet III completed 14 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Julian Holguin led the Ravens with 164 receiving yards including a 69-yard touchdown catch.
 
Matchup History
Since 2010, Hanover leads the series over Anderson 9-1. In the most recent matchup, Hanover beat Anderson 49-0. In the 2021 bout, Hanover's defense was able to hold Anderson to 62 yards of total offense.   
 
Around the HCAC
After last week's loss to MSJ, Hanover is now tied for second place (Franklin) in the HCAC with a conference record of 3-1. Rose-Hulman defeated Franklin 49-0 last week to remain unbeaten in the HCAC, leaving the Fighting Engineers and MSJ tied for first place with records of 4-0.